The A3 Apex is an aquarium monitoring and control system built to help prevent equipment failures, catch problems early, and make day-to-day reefing less stressful. Track key parameters, control connected devices, and get notified when something needs attention.

Specifications

• Monitoring included: temperature and pH, each with a lab-grade probe in the box.
• Leak detection: analog, using the LD-2 solid-surface leak sensor supplied. Neptune reserve optical leak detection and continuous liquid-level monitoring for the Apex Pro.
• Water level: above-or-below sensing through the Magnetic Optical Sensor supplied.
• Three FMM input ports, six digital inputs, three 1LINK outputs and two 24 V DC outputs.
• Two AquaBus ports on the base unit, plus three on the Energy Bar.
• Networking: 802.11g/n Wi-Fi and hard-wired Ethernet (RJ45, straight CAT-5 or CAT-6). Both can be run together for redundancy, and Neptune recommend the wired connection where it is practical.
• Built-in audible alarm buzzer.
• Auxiliary power for the base unit, if you run it without an Energy Bar: 12 V DC, 0.7 A, 2.1 mm centre-positive (Neptune part PS12).
• Controllable mains outlets: eight on the North American EnergyBar 832; six on the EnergyBar 632 supplied in 230 VAC regions, this one included.
• Not on this model, per Neptune’s own comparison table: the four variable 0–10 V outputs and the liquid-level monitoring of the Apex Pro.

The Energy Bar you will receive. Neptune build the EnergyBar 832 — the eight-outlet 120 VAC bar shown in most of their material — for North America and other 120 VAC 60 Hz grids only. In their words, “for sale in international regions which use 230VAC 50Hz power, Apex systems are bundled with an EnergyBar 632 equipped with 6 outlets specific to that region (UK, EU or Schuko)”. India is a 230 VAC 50 Hz market, so the unit you receive carries an EnergyBar 632 with six switched outlets, not eight. Neptune publish the 632 in a UK (Type G) and a Schuko (Type F) receptacle variant; they do not publish an Indian Type D or Type M variant. Message us before you order and we will confirm which variant the unit in stock carries, so you can plan plug adapters for your existing equipment.

EnergyBar 632 — the bar supplied in this region.

• Six relay-switched, individually programmable 230 VAC outlets, each rated 7 amps.
• Total draw across all outlets must not exceed 10 amps or 2200 watts, whichever is less.
• Per-outlet monitoring and logging of amperes and watts, with overcurrent warnings through the Apex and a rapidly flashing outlet LED.
• Two DC24 outlets supplying switched 24 VDC at up to 30 watts each, and three 1LINK ports; the two DC24 outlets and the three 1LINK ports together must not exceed 100 watts.
• Three AquaBus connectors, in any order — there is no required sequence for AquaBus accessories.
• A 10 amp circuit breaker inside the unit, with a yellow status and reset indicator. There are no user-serviceable fuses.
• On loss of communication with the Apex, each outlet reverts to a state you configure.

What’s in the Box

Neptune do not publish a numbered packing list for the A3 series. The list below is taken from the “Included with” line under each accessory on their A3 Apex Series page and from the “What’s Included?” comparison table on the same page, so it is what Neptune say ships with this model rather than a carton we have inventoried. If anything is missing when yours arrives, message us and we will sort it out.

• A3 Apex base unit.
• Energy Bar — EnergyBar 832 in 120 VAC regions, EnergyBar 632 in 230 VAC regions such as India.
• Temperature probe.
• Lab-grade pH probe.
• LD-2 solid-surface leak sensor, on a 5 metre (16.3 foot) lead, for the floor of the cabinet or anywhere an overflow would show up first.
• Magnetic Optical Sensor (MOS) — a sealed, magnetically mounted level sensor that works as a smart float switch, telling the Apex whether water is above or below the point you fix it at.
• Mounting plate and screws for the Energy Bar, and a printable mounting template for the base unit and the bar.

Not in the box. The ORP probe, the salinity (conductivity) probe, the Liquid Level Sensor, the Optical Multi Surface Leak Sensor, the Magnetic Probe Rack, and wall anchors for plasterboard or masonry.

Safety & Precautions

• Mount every Apex module above the water line, and put a drip loop in every power cord and every AquaBus cable. Neptune state plainly that water damage voids the warranty.
• Plug the Energy Bar into a properly earthed socket on a circuit of 10 amps or more, protected by an RCD. The bar has an earthing conductor and an earthed plug and must not be defeated with a two-pin adapter.
• Mount the Energy Bar horizontally and upright on a vertical surface — a wall, a mounting board, or the side or back of the cabinet. Never mount it directly above an open vessel of water such as the tank or the sump.
• Leave at least 1 inch (25 mm) of clearance above the Energy Bar so it can be lifted off its mount, about 3 inches (75 mm) at the lower-left corner for AquaBus and other cabling, and 1 to 2 inches (25 to 50 mm) on the right-hand side for the fan.
• Allow roughly 2 to 3 inches (50 to 75 mm) below the Apex base unit for its cables.
• Observe the per-outlet ceiling strictly: 7 amps on any one outlet, and 10 amps or 2200 watts — whichever comes first — across the bar as a whole. A rapidly flashing outlet LED means that outlet is over 7 amps and must be dealt with.
• Never plug a USB device into an AquaBus connector, and never plug an AquaBus accessory into a computer USB port. The connectors look alike; damage to both devices can result.
• Keep the total length of all AquaBus cabling on the system under 200 feet (about 60 metres).
• Mounting screws and anchors for masonry or plasterboard are not supplied. Use fixings rated for the wall you are drilling into.

Warranty & Support

This product carries a 1-year manufacturer warranty on hardware from the date of purchase. Probes are consumable items and carry a 90-day warranty.

Warranty support is handled by us directly. Message our WhatsApp support with your order number and we will diagnose the fault first — most cases are solved by replacing a single part, so you rarely need to send the whole unit. If the item does need to come back, it ships to our Delhi or Pune warehouse, whichever one served your order, and courier cost in both directions is borne by the customer. Your GST invoice is valid proof of purchase for the claim.

Backorder & Dispatch Timeline

This item is stocked to order. Back-orders are consolidated and placed with our overseas suppliers once a month, on the last day of the month, and all such orders are shipped before the 15th of the following month.

Back-orders cannot be cancelled once they have been placed with the supplier. If you cancel before that, payment-gateway charges of 2% plus GST are deducted and the balance refunded. In the rare case a supplier cannot fulfil the item, we will offer you an alternative first, and refund in full with no deduction if you would rather not take it.

Returns & Replacement

Returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery, provided the item is unused and in its original packaging. Manufacturer-sealed items cannot be returned once the seal is broken, and sale-priced items are not refundable.

If your item arrives defective or damaged, message us on WhatsApp with your order number — or email us, if you would rather — and we will replace it. Approved replacements are delivered within 3 to 5 business days. Transit damage is covered by insurance on every shipment. If tracking shows delivered but nothing reached you, tell us within 72 hours, which is the reporting window Indian couriers allow. Damage caused during installation or use is not covered; replacement spares for such cases are chargeable.

Full terms are on our Cancellation & Returns page.